the man from glengarry-第26节

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somethin'　to　help　you　out。〃

Peter　regarded　him　a　little　impatiently。　　He　had　forgotten　the
concrete；　for　the　moment；　in　the　abstract；　and　was　donning　his
armor　for　a　battle　with　Kenny　upon　the　〃fundamentals。〃　　Hence　he
was　not　too　well　pleased　with　Yankee's　interruption。　　But　Donald
Ross　gladly　welcomed　the　diversion。　　The　subject　was　to　him
extremely　painful。

〃We　will　be　glad；〃　he　said　to　Yankee；　〃to　hear　you；　Mr。　Latham。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Yankee；　slowly；　〃from　your　remarks　I　gathered　that　you
wanted　information　about　the　doings　of〃　he　jerked　his　head　toward
the　house　behind　him。　　〃Now；　I　want　to　say；〃　he　continued；
confidentially；　〃you've　come　to　the　right　shop；　for　I've　ate　and
slept；　I've　worked　and　fought；　I've　lived　with　him　by　day　and　by
night；　and　right　through　he　was　the　straightest；　whitest　man　I　ever
seen；　and　I　won't　except　the　boss　himself。〃　　Yankee　paused　to
consider　the　effect　of　this　statement；　and　to　allow　its　full　weight
to　be　appreciated；　and　then　he　continued：　　〃Yes；　sir；　you　may　just
bet　youryou　may　be　right　well　sure；〃　correcting　himself；　〃that
you're　safe　in　givin'〃here　he　dropped　his　voice；　and　jerked　his
head　toward　the　house　again〃in　givin'　the　highest　marks；　full
value；　and　no　discount。　　Why；〃　he　went　on；　with　an　enthusiasm　rare
in　him；　〃ask　any　man　in　the　gang；　any　man　on　the　river；　if　they
ever　seen　or　heard　of　his　doin'　a　mean　or　crooked　thing；　and　if　you
find　any　feller　who　says　he　did；　bring　him　here；　and；　by〃Yankee
remembered　himself　in　time〃and　I　give　you　my　solemn　word　that
I'll　eat　him；　hat　and　boots。〃　　Yankee　brought　his　bony　fist　down
with　a　whack　into　his　hand。　　Then　he　relapsed　into　his　lazy　drawl
again：　　〃No；　siree；　hoss！　　If　it's　doin's　you're　after；　don't　you
be　slow　in　bankin'　your　little　heap　on　HIS　doin's。〃

Donald　Ross　grasped　Yankee's　hand　and　shook　it　hard。　　〃I　will　be
thanking　you　for　that　word；〃　he　said；　earnestly。

But　Peter　felt　that　the　cause　of　truth　demanded　that　he　should
speak　out。　　〃Mr。　Latham；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃what　you　have　been
saying　is　very　true；　no　doubt；　but　if　a　man　is　not　'born　again　he
cannot　see　the　kingdom　of　God。'　　These　are　the　words　of　the　Lord
himself。〃

〃Born　again！〃　said　Yankee。　　〃How？　　I　don't　seem　to　get　you。　　But　I
guess　the　feller　that　does　the　right　thing　all　round　has　got　a
purty　good　chance。〃

〃It　is　not　a　man's　deeds；　we　are　told；〃　said　Peter；　patiently；　〃but
his　heart。〃

〃There　you　are；〃　said　Yankee；　warmly；　〃right　again；　and　that's　what
I　always　hold　to。　　It's　the　heart　a　man　carries　round　in　his
inside。　　Never　mind　your　talk；　never　mind　your　actin'　up　for　people
to　see。　　Give　me　the　heart　that　is　warm　and　red；　and　beats　proper
time；　you　bet。　　Say！　you're　all　right。〃　　Yankee　gazed　admiringly　at
the　perplexed　and　hopeless　Peter。

〃I　am　afraid　you　are　not　remembering　what　the　Apostle　Paul　said；
Mr。　Latham；〃　said　Peter；　determined　to　deal　faithfully　with　Yankee。
〃'By　the　deeds　of　the　law　shall　no　flesh　be　justified。'〃

It　was　now　Yankee's　turn　to　gaze　helplessly　at　Peter。　　〃I　guess　you
have　dropped　me　again；〃　he　said；　slowly。

〃Man；〃　said　Peter；　with　a　touch　of　severity；　〃you　will　need　to　be
more　faithful　with　the　Word　of　God。　　The　Scriptures　plainly　declare；
Mr。　Latham；　that　it　is　impossible　for　a　man　to　be　saved　in　his
natural　state。〃

Yankee　looked　blank　at　this。

〃The　prophet　says　that　the　plowing　and　sowing；　the　very　prayers；　of
the　wicked　are　an　abomination　to　the　Lord。〃

〃Why；　now　you're　talkin'；　but　look　here。〃　　Yankee　lowered　his　tone。
〃Look　here；　you　wouldn't　go　for　to　call〃here　again　he　jerked　his
head　toward　the　house〃wicked；　would　you？　　Fur　if　you　do；　why；
there　ain't　any　more　conversation　between　you　and　me。〃

Yankee　was　terribly　in　earnest。

〃'There　is　none　righteous；　no；　not　one；'〃　quoted　Peter；　with　the
air　of　a　man　who　forces　himself　to　an　unpleasant　duty。

〃That's　so；　I　guess；〃　said　Yankee；　meditatively；　〃but　it　depends
some　on　what　you　mean。　　I　don't　set　myself　up　for　any　copy…book
head…line；　but　as　men　gomen；　say；　just　like　you　hereI'd　put
I'd　put　him　alongside；　wouldn't　you？　　You　expect　to　get　through
yourself；　I　judge？〃

This　was　turning　the　tables　somewhat　sharply　upon　Peter；　but
Yankee's　keen；　wide…open　eyes　were　upon　him；　and　his　intensely
earnest　manner　demanded　an　answer。

〃Indeed；　if　it　will　be　so；　it　will　not　be　for　any　merit　of　my　own；
but　only　because　of　the　mercy　of　the　Lord　in　Christ　Jesus。〃
Peter's　tone　was　sincerely　humble。

〃Guess　you're　all　right；〃　said　Yankee；　encouragingly；　〃and　as　for
as　forhimdon't　you　worry　about　that。　　You　may　be　dead　sure
about　his　case。〃

But　Peter　only　shook　his　head　hopelessly。　　〃You　are　sorely　in　need
of　instruction；　Mr。　Latham；〃　he　said；　sadly。　　〃We　cannot　listen　to
our　hearts　in　this　matter。　　We　must　do　honor　to　the　justice　of　God；
and　the　word　is　clear；　'Ye　must　be　born　again。'　　Nothing　else
avails。〃　　Peter's　tone　was　final。

Then　Yankee　drew　a　little　nearer　to　him；　as　if　settling　down　to
work。

〃Now　look　here。　　You　let　me　talk　awhile。　　I　ain't　up　in　your　side
of　the　business；　but　I　guess　we　are　tryin'　to　make　the　same　point。
Now　supposin'　you　was　in　for　a　hoss　race；　which　I　hope　ain't　no
offense；　seein'　it　ain't　likely　but　suppose；　and　to　take　first
money　you　had　to　perdoose　a　two…fifteen　gait。　　'Purty　good　lick；'
says　you；　'now　where　will　I　get　the　nag？'　　Then　you　sets　down　and
thinks；　and；　says　you；　'By　gum；　which　of　course　you　wouldn't；　but
supposin'　says　you；　'a　Blue　Grass　bred　is　the　hoss　for　that　gait'；
and　you　begin　to　inquire　around；　but　there　ain't　no　Blue　Grass　bred
stock　in　the　country；　and　that　race　is　creepin'　up　close。　　One　day；
just　when　you　was　beginnin'　to　figure　on　takin'　the　dust　to　the
hull　field；　you　sees　a　colt　comin'　along　the　road　hittin'　up　a
purty　slick　gait。　　'Hello；'　says　you；　'that　looks　likely；'　and　you
begin　to　negotiate；　and　you　finds　out　that　colt's　all　right　and　her
time's　two…ten。　　Then　you　begin　to　talk　about　the　weather　and　the
crops　until　you　finds　out　the　price；　and　you　offer　him　half　money。
Then；　when　you　have　fetched　him　down　to　the　right　figure；　you　pulls
out　your　wad；　thinkin'　how　that　colt　will　make　the　rest　look　like　a
line　of　fence…posts。　　'But　hold　on；'　says　you；　'is　this　here　colt
Blue　Grass　bred？'　　'Blue　Grass！　　Not　much。　　This　here's　Grey　Eagle
stock；　North　Virginny'　says　he。　　'Don't　want　her；'　says　you。
'What's　the　matter　with　the　colt？'　says　he。　　'Nothin'；　only　she
ain't　Blue　Grass。　　Got　to　be　Blue　Grass。'　　'But　she's　got　the　gait；
ain't　she？'　　'Yes；　the　gait's　all　right；　action　fine；　good…looking；
too；　nothing　wrong；　but　she　ain't　Blue　Grass　bred。'　　And　so　you
lose　your　race。　　Now　what　kind　of　a　name　would　you　call　yourself？〃

Peter　saw　Yankee's　point；　but　he　only　shook　his　head　more
hopelessly　than　before；　and　turned　to　enter　the　house；　followed　by
Straight　Rory；　still　sighing　deeply；　and　old　Donald　Ross。　　But
Kenny　remained　a　moment　behind　the　others；　and　offering　his　hand　to
Yankee；　said：　　〃You　are　a　right　man；　and　I　will　be　proud　to　know
you　better。〃

Yankee　turned　a　puzzled　face　to　Kenny。　　〃I　say；〃　he　inquired；　in　an
amazed　voice；　〃do　you　think　he　didn't　catch　on　to　me？〃

Kenny　nodded。　　〃Yes；　he　understood　your　point。〃

〃But　look　here；〃　said　Yankee；　〃they　don't　hold　thatthat　he　is〃
Yankee　paused。　　The　thought　was　too　horrible；　and　these　men　were
experts；　and　were　supposed　to　know。

〃It's　hard　to　say；〃　said　Kenny；　diplomatically。

〃See　here；〃　said　Yankee；　facing　Kenny　squarely；　〃you're　a　purty
level…headed　man；　and　you're　up　in　this　business。　　Do　you　think
with　them？　　No　monkeying。　　Straight　talk　now。〃　　Yankee　was　in　no
mood　to　be　trifled　with。　　He　was　in　such　deadly　earnest　that　he　had
forgotten　all　about　Ranald；　who　was　now　standing　behind　him；
waiting；　with　white　face　and　parted　lips；　for　Kenny's　answer。

〃Whisht！〃　said　Kenny；　pointing　into　the　kitchen　behind。　　Yankee
looked　and　saw　Bella　Peter　and　her　father　entering。　　But　Ranald　was
determined　to　know　Kenny's　opinion。

〃Mr。　Campbell；〃　he　whispered；　eagerly；　and　forgetting　the　respect
due　to　an　elder；　he　grasped　Kenny's　arm；　〃do　you　think　with　them？〃

〃That　I　do　not；〃　said　Kenny；　emphatically；　and　Yankee；　at　that
word；　struck　his　hand　into　Kenny's　palm　with　a　loud　smack。

〃I　knew　blamed　well　you　were　not　any　such　dumb　fool；〃　he　said；
softening　his　speech　in　deference　to　Kenny's　office　and　the
surrounding　circumstances。　　So　saying；　he　went　away　to　the　stable；
and　when　Ranald　and　his　uncle；　Macdonald　Bhain；　followed　a　little
later　to　put　up　Peter　McGregor's　team；　they　heard　Yankee　inside；
swearing　with　a　fluency　and　vigor　quite　unusual　with　him。

〃Whisht；　man！〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　sternly。　　〃This　is　no　place
or　time　to　be　using　such　language。　　What　is　the　matter　with　you；
anyway？〃

But　Macdonald　could　get　no　satisfaction　out　of　him；　and　he　said　to
his　nephew；　〃What　is　it；　Ranald？〃

〃It　is　the　elders；　Peter　McRae　and　Straight　Rory；〃　said　Ranald；
sullenly。　　〃They　were　saying　that　Mack　wasthat　Mack　was〃

〃Look　here；　boss；〃　interrupted　Yankee；　〃I　ain't　well　up　in
Scriptures；　and　don't　know　much　about　these　things；　and　them　elders
do；　and　they　saysome　of　them；　anywayare　sending　Mack　to　hell。